International Journal of Civil Engineering (IJCE) ISSN 2278-9987 Vol.1, Issue 2 Nov 2012 15-24 Š IASET
SPATIAL INTERVENTION FOR REGENERATION OF URBAN WATER BODIES – A CASE STUDY OF DHAKA CITY ABONTIKA SARA ISRAT Lecturer, Department of Architecture, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
ABSTRACT This paper will present a new approach to the sustainable solutions for the Regeneration of Urban water bodies through limited physical intervention. It will only focus on the issues and some possibilities against the recent condition of Dhaka. As the lakes, canals and water bodies in the city have been grabbed by unauthorized occupies, with impunity, the outlets for stagnant waters have been closed. For canal grabbed the sewerage clearing has been blocked. A committed member requesting anonymity said the committee has sat once only in the last one month and still its activities are limited to paper works. Therefore, the wetlands should be utilized for welfare of the people by protecting those from ruination and preserving biodiversity through proper and time-befitting work plans.
KEYWORDS: Sustainable Solutions, Regeneration, Wetlands INTRODUCTION Wetlands in the Context of Dhaka Definition of wetland has been set by Ramsar Convention. It was the first attempt towards intergovernmental treaties conservation and wise use of natural resources. According to Ramsar Convention wet lands are defined as follows: Wet lands include a wide variety of habitats such as marshes, peat lands, floodplains, rivers and lakes and coastal areas such as salt-marshes, mangroves and sea grass beds but also coral reefs and other marine areas no deeper than 6m at low tide, as well as human made wetlands such as waste-water treatment ponds and reservoirs(Ramsar Convention Bureau,2000). According to the permanency and depth of water Dhaka has different categories of wetland. This research primarily focused on the impact of filling wetlands of Dhaka. Magnitude of Wetland Loss and its Impact Several studies have documented to determine the loss of wetland in Dhaka over the period 1989-1999-2003 (ESCAP, 2005).The findings of the study shows that the annual rate of loss of wet5land in Dhaka during the period 19992003 was 5.67%, whereas the annual rate of loss was 1.23% over the period 1989-1999.The land filling activity became irresistible since the later half of 90s due to high profitable prospect of the business. The current development activities are taking place without considering such geomorphological, hydrological and environmental aspects of the site. Conversion of wetland into urban uses has following major implications: I.
Adverse impact on flooding situation of Dhaka city due to loss of retention area and increase of impervious surface.
II.
Decrease of ground water recharge area and ground water level
III.
Destruction of natural drainage system
IV.
Disturbance of local ecology and biodiversity